Author: Emily Saint-Smith

It is as magnificent, jaw-dropping, gasp-enticing and lavish a staging as you can imagine, but Opera Australia’s decision to rely on digital technology for its latest production of Aida nearly came unstuck on opening night, due to a tiny, blinking square of blue light.... Read More | Share it now!

If you love jogging through the Botanical Gardens near Mrs Macquarie’s Chair on a bright Autumn night, be prepared to hear the name Maria echoing through the trees as Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour brings the iconic West Side Story to the outdoor stage.... Read More | Share it now!

“With an audience full of performers, you’d think they’d know how to take their seats on time!” This observation from my patient (?) plus-one came as the clock ticked past 8.05pm and Sydney’s Capitol Theatre was still only half full. It also perfectly summed up our experience of the 2018 Helpmann Awards. You see, while the nominees and winners are performing arts professionals, at the top of their game, the annual Helpmann Awards ceremony and after party is a chance for them to let their hair down, mix, mingle, air-kiss and generally feel like normal human beings for a night. There were a few technical glitches, a couple of missed cues, even the odd surprised winner who was left completely speechless, but above all there was a wonderful sense of camaraderie.... Read More | Share it now!

Tackling Verdi’s Rigoletto in the #metoo era could have been a real opportunity for Opera Australia. A story featuring a leader who believes women merely objects for his desire and a disadvantaged subject who cheers on this behaviour until it is directed towards his own daughter – just think of the possible political parallels to be drawn from this! But sadly, this is an opportunity lost, given up for the safety of the all too familiar. The latest revival of Elijah Moshinsky’s 1991 production has a couple of firsts for its performers but not much in the way of the new for audiences. It is good but not ground-breaking.... Read More | Share it now!

If you were in the vicinity of Sydney’s ICC on Friday 15th June you may have noticed an abundance of white canvas tote bags marked with red Xs and Os. No, it wasn’t a giant game of noughts and crosses (although that would have been super fun) – the people toting said totes were taking part in the annual TEDxSydney event. Emily Saint-Smith went along to infiltrate this cult-like phenomenon and find out exactly what goes on beyond the closed doors (and just what was in those tote bags)…... Read More | Share it now!

It takes extraordinary strength of character (both in personality and portrayal) to deliver a flawless performance while one of your leads is being rushed to hospital with a serious injury, but that is what the cast of Assassins did on opening night at the Sydney Opera House this week. A sharply designed, brilliantly performed production, Assassins is yet another hit from the Hayes Theatre Company which thoroughly deserves the chance to entertain bigger audiences in its new Opera House digs.... Read More | Share it now!

Ever wondered what it’s like to be the most talked about person in Australia? How to go about becoming a social media sensation? Or what women who work in scientific professions really feel about gender balance? These are just some of the things pondered by some of Australia’s leading minds, all of whom are appearing at TEDxSydney this month.... Read More | Share it now!

Despite being penned by arguably the world’s greatest playwright, the convoluted storyline of Troilus & Cressida can prove a significant challenge for even the best theatre practitioners. Secret House have tackled this problem play with their usual gusto, gaining many ticks from this reviewer, but unfortunately the source material proves a difficult sell and, as a result, this show falls a little short of the company’s usual heights.... Read More | Share it now!

A comedian, robobiologist, YouTube celebrity and Anglican priest walk into a convention centre… Okay, it’s not the best opening line for a joke but it is a great start to the line-up for this year’s TEDxSydney, hitting the ICC Sydney stage on Friday 15th June.... Read More | Share it now!

This weekend, some of Australia’s finest photographers will be showcased at the inaugural photography conference Aperture Australia 2018. The two-day conference is the first of its kind in Sydney, featuring eight industry heavyweights including pioneering Australian landscape photographer Ken Duncan, fine art photographer Alexia Sinclair, and celebrity portrait photographer Gary Heery who has shot celebrities such as Ray Charles and Madonna.... Read More | Share it now!

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I first tried Singapore restaurant Porta during my stay at Park Hotel Clarke Quay and while I didn’t say so in the small paragraph I wrote about it, I did immediately notice the lack of diversity on their menu in terms of dietary options. I mentioned that I was a pescetarian quite immediately when I sat […]

There’s something really underrated about bands that play with as a three piece. Sure, having twelve people in your band means you can add incredible depth to your sound, but the raw basic-ness of guitar, bass and drums is something that will always manage to be magic in live setting. This is no different when […]

Mona Foma made its official Launceston debut over the weekend, featuring art installations around the city and performances from the likes of Courtney Barnett, Jonathan Bree, Neneh Cherry, Nakhane (pictured above), WWWATER, Ewah and the Vision of Paradise, Southeast Desert Metal & much, much more. Larry Heath was on ground at the event and brings us […]

Chatter within Brisbane’s The Bearded Lady had one common topic: the Nazi flag incident. The previous week, a punk band caused outrage when two dim-witted members unveiled a Nazi flag. It reeked of desperate attention-seeking, especially compared to the sonic provocations of Melbourne noise legends Primitive Calculators. Formed in 1978, Primitive Calculators existed for two […]

Off the back of his seventh solo studio album, Storm Boy, Xavier Rudd is playing a few select dates across the country including two sets at ‘Twilight at Taronga’ – a picturesque harbour-backdrop amphitheatre surrounded by the chorus of Sydney’s Taronga Zoo. Ahead of his soon-to-be-sold-out shows, Xavier was able to chat about his newest album, his married […]

Springing from Adelaide, high energy four-piece Donnarumma are a total force to be reckoned with. Following the release of their latest single “Rollercoaster” in November, the band are currently in the middle of their six-date tour across the south and east coasts of the country. This week, the Grace Darling Hotel (Collingwood) hosted their Melbourne show, also welcoming […]

Chalk Eraserland up as one of the most anticipated albums of 2019, as Timothy Showalter, better known as Stand of Oaks, previews his seventh full length album with the astounding beauty of “Weird Ways”. In a dark place, Showalter was ready to quit music entirely last year before being coaxed back into creating his remarkably […]

On Saturday 8th June 2019, Iconic chanteuse Celine Dion will finally bring her run of Las Vegas residencies to a definite close, sixteen years after she first began performing at The Colosseum. The powerhouse vocalist, now almost forty years into a storied career, is currently working her way to a historical moment for Las Vegas’ […]

All 46 Gelatissimo stores across Australia are now stocking a very summery limited edition flavour, which is perhaps the brand’s strangest – and possibly best – yet. The new release is a partnership with Bundaberg Brewed Drinks to capture the profile of the company’s most successful drink, that being their craft brewed Ginger Beer. “We […]

After opening their first ever expansion in Chatswood, Bondi-born favourite Shuk has now revealed their third store, smack bang in the heart of breezy Elizabeth Bay. Located on the back street of Roslyn Gardens, a short walk from Rushcutters Bay and Potts Point, the 50-seat venue fits into the brand new Trebartha Apartments (those lucky, […]